Bunion corrector



Feb.'13, 1940. D ETAL 2,190,016

BUNION CORREC'I'OR' Filed Nov. 21, 1938 INVENTOR ATTOR N EYS Patented Feb. 13,

52,190,016 1 v BUNION conaEo'roR Jeremiah 0. Day and William F Marshall,

Application November 21,,1938 Serial No. 241,68; r 1 cam, (01. 128-31) This invention relates to improvements in devices for the correction of foot deformities and;

its general object is to provide a device of that character commonly called a bunion corrector, in

, inclusive, the reference numeral I broadly mdi- 5 that it is especially designed for correcting deformities of the first metatarsal joint;

Another object of the invention is to provide a bunion corrector that can be worn at all times, and functions to exert a gentle pulling action on the great toe, acts as an anterior support for the first metatarsal joint, prevents pronation and abduction thereof, as well as reduces both friction and pressure thereon, so as tocooperate with the pulling action to cause the joint and toe to assume their normal positions, therefore it will be obvious that our device, corrects, remedies and prevents one of the most painful deformities of the foot, namely the enlargement of the first metatarsophalangeal articulation, com monly called a bunion. t

A further object is to provide a bunion corrector constructed to provide pad receiving pockets wherein soft pliable material such 'as cloth, felt, cotton or lambs wool maybe removably placed in suitable quantities to vary the thickness of the padded areas of the device in accordance with the existing condition of the deformity and the desires of the wearer.

An extremely important object is toprovide a bunion corrector that is interchangeable, that is, it can be used with equal eificiency on either the left or right foot without any structural changes in the device whatsoever. 1

A still further object is to provide a bunion corrector that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and extremely eflicient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure .3 Ba sectional view taken approxidirection of the arrows.

Figure {is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the device. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly to the form as "shown in Figures 1 to3 catesth'e body of our deviceand which is formed from a pair of layers of relatively thin pliable sheetmaterial such as felt, leather or any Inate-, rial suitable for the purpose, shapedand stitched together about'the major portion of its marginal l0 edges to provide a substantially oval shaped enlarge'd portion 2 merging into a substantial1y'rectangular extension 3 having an open outerend to providea mouth 4 for a pocket 5. f 1

In this form, both of the layers of material are] cut away to providea substantially oval shaped. openingtpextending along the longitudinal cen ter of the-body for disposal partially within the enlarged portion and the extension, as best shown in Figure 2, for receiving the bunion, and the layers about the edges of the openings 6 are likewise stitched together, as best shown in Figure 3. One of the layers adjacent to the rear end of the body is slit transversely as atl to provide a mouth for a pocket 8 between the layers of the enlarged portion, and this pocket as well as the pocketi is adapted to receive any suitable soft pliable padding material 9, and while lambs wool is' 'pre'ferredwe may use cloth, felt or cotton, but it will be obvious that any quantity of padding material may be inserted in the pockets to vary the thickness thereof in accordance with the desires of the wearer. Y

Secured to the enlarged portion 2 upon diametrically opposite sides thereof are the ends of a foot encircling band III which is made from any suitable elastic materiaLsuch as webbing or the like, for securing the body laterally of the foot to bear against that portion thereof about i, the firstmetatarsal joint and with the opening about the latter, and so thatthe extension 3'is engaged with the great toe upon the outer side thereof, as best shown in Figure 1. l

The extension, has secured thereto upon diametrically opposite sides thereof at its outer end, the ends of a toe encircling band H which is likewisemade from any suitable elastic material and has secured thereto for disposal in a plane parallel to the extension a pocket member 12 which is made up of a pair of layers "of ma- 50 terial such as felt, leather or the, like shaped to provide straight upper and lower edges and a rounded forward edge, while the rear edge is straight. The layers of the pocket member I2 are stitched about the upper, lower and rounded 55 PATENT other forward edge, but the straight rear edge is left open to provide a mouth 13 for the passage of padding material I4 such as lambs wool or the like within the pocket member, as will be apparent upon inspection of Figure 3.

['The pocket member is disposed between the great toe and the toe adjacent thereto as clearly shown in Figure 1.

From the above description and ,disclosureof the drawing, it is believed that it will be obvious that when our device is applied to' the foot, as

shown in Figure 1, that the body acts as an, anterior support for the first metatarsal joint and cooperates with the pulling action of thepocket'z member 12 against the innersideof the great toe to cause the latter and the joint to assumetheir normal positions, and thereby correct the condition that brings aboutithe enlargement or bunion at the first metatarsal joint.

The form of Figure 4 is a substantially sim il'ar toe encircling band I8 is integral with the, layers ber 19.

of material that make up the body; aswell as with the pocket member l9. In that respect, it will be noted that each of the layers are shaped to providea portion of the toe encircling band and formed on those portions are enlarged outer ends sewed together to provide the pocket mem- The extension !6 in this form projects at a slight angle from the oval shaped portion. The foot encircling band 20 of this form-is se-. cured to the elongated portion l5, at its juncture thereof with the extension l6, and of course it' will be understood that the band 20 is made from any suitable elastic material, such as webbing or the like.

While the form of- Figures 1 to 3 is shownas' being applied to the leftjfoot in the drawing, it is interchangeable or can be usedwith equal efficiency on either foot, without any change whatsoever in the device, due to the symmetrical shape of thebody as shown, and the fact that the bunion receiving opening extends entirely I through the body. The interchangeable feature is of utmost importance, as it eliminates the necessity of making the device for each foot, as well as the dealer stocking a larger quantity of the devices to meet the requirements of all sizes for both feet.

The device of the form of Figure 4 is not interchangeable, but it is otherwise capable of performing all the functions of the form of Figureswl to 3,.

"*lIt-fis th light from the .foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

"It is to be understood that changes may be 'made'in' the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch' changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

A bunion corrector comprising a body made up" of a'pair of layers of pliable sheet material stitched together. about-the edges thereof to provide a body including 'a-relatively large substantially oval shaped portion and a relatively narrow extension projecting forwardly from the oval shaped portion for disposal against the outer side of the, great toe, a foot encircling band of elasticmaterial-attached to the oval shaped portionfor'securing the body against the first meta.-

tarsaljointto provide an anterior support therefor, said body having a: bunion receiving opening therein and said layers'being stitched together about the opening, said extension having an open forward end providing a mouth for a pocket betweensaid opening: and said open end, one'of said layers being slit within the area of the oval shaped portion to providea mouth for a pocket within the oval shaped portion, padding receivable in the pockets, in any predetermined, quantity to adjust the thickness of; the padded areas of the body, a band secured to theouter end of the extension to encircle the great toe, toe engaging means secured to the latter band for disposal between the great toe and the toc next thereto and being the form of a pocket having an open rear end providing a mouth therefor, and padding within the. latter pocket.

JEREMIAH 0. DAY. WILLIAM F. MARSHALL. 

